Ren's Ramen

Address: 11403 Amherst Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902

Phone: 301-693-0806

Neighborhood: Wheaton

Cuisines: Japanese

Opening Hours: Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday 11:30 to 9, Saturday 11:30 to 8, Sunday 11:30 to 7. Closed every second and third Tuesday of the month.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Kid Friendly: Yes

Nearby Metro Stops: Wheaton

Price Range: Inexpensive

Dress: Informal

Noise Level: Intimate

Reservations: Not Accepted

Best Dishes Sapporo-style miso ramen; tonshio ramen; vegetable shio ramen; stewed fatty pork.

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

If you made a habit of tanking down dried, processed ramen in college, you might have a hard time thinking of the stuff as worthy of an entire restaurant, let alone a spot on this list. But one slurp from these tureen-like bowls and you’ll be persuaded otherwise. The broths are rich and full of umami flavor, and the noodles, imported from Sapporo, have the springy, chewy properties of all good pasta. There’s an array of toppings—including extra roast pork, braised egg, and seaweed—to augment your bowl, but you don’t need them.

Instant gratification is easy—you can find that at any fast-food chain. Instant restoration? Now, that’s something to celebrate.

Also good: Miso ramen; shoyu ramen, a soy sauce-based broth.